- Full Name: Mikel John Obi
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Date of Birth: 22/04/1987
- Height: 1.88m
- Weight: 86 kg
- Position: Midfielder
- Previous Club: Lyn Oslo
- Current Club: Chelsea
Mikel started playing top-flight football for Plateau United at the age of 15, and by 2003, was in the headlines for his performance at the FIFA Under-17 World Championships held in Finland. After a brief spell in South Africa with Ajax Cape Town, Mikel gained global recognition in 2005 by starring at the FIFA World Youth Championship where Nigeria made it to the final but lost to Argentina 2–1. he won the Silver Ball after being voted the tournament's second best player.
At the age of 18, in April 2005, Mikel became the central piece of a raging controversy between Manchester United and Chelsea, the two top EPL clubs. Finally Chelsea coughed up 16 million pounds, 12 to Manchester United and 4 to Lyn Oslo, Mikel’s previous club and settled the war.
Mikel made his debut for Chelsea in a Champions League match against Levski Sofia and was instrumental in Didier Drogba scoring the winning goal. But he was found to be lax in discipline and was fined on three separate occasions by Chelsea for turning up late to training.
After improved punctuality and showings at training sessions, Mikel earned a recall for Chelsea's Champions League group away game against Werder Bremen on November 23, 2006. Mikel scored his first goal for Chelsea in their 6–1 FA Cup victory over Macclesfield Town in January 2007. On 22 July, 2009 Mikel signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea.
Mikel made his debut for Nigeria's senior team in August 2005, when he came on as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 friendly win over Libya. He was in the squad for the 2006 African Cup of Nations. In Nigeria's first group game, against Ghana, Mikel was an unused substitute. However, he was introduced into the second game, against Zimbabwe, early in the second half. Within ten minutes of coming on, he had supplied both the corner that resulted in Christian Obodo heading the game's opening goal, and scored Nigeria's second goal. He made his first international start in Nigeria's final group game, a 2–1 victory over Senegal.
During the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana, he scored 1 goal and registered one assist, both against Benin Republic, to help Nigeria qualify for the quarterfinals.
Volatile by nature, he has been at the receiving end throughout his career for off field actions and for questioning those in authority. But it is to be noted that heis a sparkling footballer, one on the field with a ball to kick. |
